Energy, Climate Change and Designing for Quality of Life

March 24, 2017

Peter Papesch AIA, gave a whirlwind tour of how architects (and others) fit into the swirl of systems within systems within systems that constitute reality. The presentation mixed philosophical concepts with data about the state of advances in making the all-electric future a nonpolluting reality. Micro-Grids; Smart Grids; Rifkin’s Third Industrial Revolution; Net Zero; Health; Sun, Wind & Light; Quality of Life - all have become program components as we engage in climate change mitigation. The components we can’t control may still be influenced by our designs, which means that we feel powerless ... but only to the extent that we choose. If we view these disparate program components through the lens of degree of influence that we have, we will find the satisfaction that what we design actually matters.